TNA makes some major changes.
As reported by Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp, TNA sent out an email saying that Gail Kim, Ariel Shnerner, Rob Kligman, and Michael Shewchenko are out of the company in a round of firings.
Kim had been involved with Talent Relations, and she was also working as a producer. Shnerner had been overseeing all content, and he worked closely with TNA President Anthony Cicione on all talent/creative decisions. Kligman had been the chief revenue officer (CRO) at Anthem Sports Group, while Kligman was the Vice President, Digital Operations.
The email is as follows:
Departing our leadership team are Ariel Shnerner, Gail Kim, Rob Klingman and Michael Shewchenko. As a long-term Anthem employee, Ariel has played an important role in growing our anthem properties, from his work with Fightf Network and most recently his focus on TNA. Ariel has been instrumental in building our storylines and growing our audiences.
Gail has had a long and storied career in TNA as both a champion wrestler and a part of the TNA leadership team, Gail has been a powerful presence in our locker room, supporting our talent and their great performances.
On the sales side Rob Kligman departs as Chief Revenue Officer and in Digital, Michael Shewchenko will be departing the organization April 30th.
In addition to these leadership departures, we also say thank you and goodbye to Karen Clevett, Sebastian Dastranj, Romy Glazer and Rafael Morffi.
Our company is built on the strength and dedication of our team and these changes do not diminish the value or the contributions of those affected.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports that Hunter Johnson, also known as Delirious, will head creative, and Tommy Dreamer will continue in his role on the team. They will report directly to Silva. Dreamer will also head Talent Relations following Kim's departure.
Senior Vice President of Digital, David Clevinger will be starting in April as well, while Senior Vice President of Sales, Nicole Rachine, has already started with the company this month.
Fightful Select reported the following with additional reactions and details:
TNA President Carlos Silva has sent out email saying that Gail Kim, Ariel Shnerner, Rob Kligman and Michael Shewchenko are out of the company in a round of firings.
The email reads:
"Departing our leadership team are Ariel Shnerner, Gail Kim, Rob Klingman and Michael Shewchenko. As a long-term Anthem employee, Ariel has played an important role in growing our anthem properties, from his work with Fightf Network and most recently his focus on TNA. Ariel has been instrumental in building our storylines and growing our audiences.
Gail has had a long and storied career in TNA as both a champion wrestler and a part of the TNA leadership team, Gail has been a powerful presence in our locker room, supporting our talent and their great performances.
On the sales side Rob Kligman departs as Chief Revenue Officer and in Digital, Michael Shewchenko will be departing the organization April 30th.
In addition to these leadership departures, we also say thank you and goodbye to Karen Clevett, Sebastian Dastranj, Romy Glazer and Rafael Morffi.
Our company is built on the strength and dedication of our team and these changes do not diminish the value or the contributions of those affected."
Michael Shewchenko had been with the company for two years.
Romy Glazer had worked with the company in marketing, Clevett in TNA+, and Rafael Morffi in live events. The latter worked with AEW for years.
We're told that Hunter Johnston, aka Delirious will now head up TNA creative.
David Clevinger will be joining as Senior VP of Digital next month after working with UFC, NBA, NFL, and Universal.
Over a dozen TNA talent reached out to Fightful regarding the news of Gail Kim's firing, which was met with shock, disbelief, and anger. It was a unanimously unpopular move based on those we spoke to, with at least one talent said that it made the decision for them to not remain in the company when their deal was up. There were others that told Fightful they were scared for their jobs.
At least one person said they actually weren't surprised, because Gail Kim has been very outspoken creatively, and would sometimes butt heads with people in control. Another person indicated that, but said "that's what you want out of a person in her position. Someone who will advocate for a better show." We're told that Kim was very direct about her complaints when she felt like things could have been handled better or more professionally. Gail Kim was not involved in creative, and had been pushing heavily for the Knockouts division to do more after the departure of Scott D'Amore.
In all, the reaction to Gail Kim's firing ended up being more unanimously negative than the Scott D'Amore decision last year, even. As negative as talent were publicly, it was even worse privately.
Sources in AEW and WWE both said they expected Gail Kim to get interest across the wrestling world, and a few said they were going to immediately push for such. We're told that Gail Kim does plan to continue in wrestling.
One longtime name in TNA said that they believe Anthem is going for a major regime shift with the departures of Scott D'Amore, Gail Kim and Josh Mathews, names that had been around for ages. They pointed to the revolving door of TNA Presidents and the differing visions between them. Those that we spoke to claim the decision was TNA President Carlos Silva's, and he told Gail Kim she was fired, but didn't provide a reason besides "changes." There was immediately heat in his direction for the decisions.
Tommy Dreamer was moved to a talent relations role, to help full the void Gail Kim left behind there. Hunter Johnston, aka Delirious will head creative. Tommy Dreamer will stay on the creative end as well.
Even outside of TNA, the firing of Gail Kim was met with a lot of shock and disbelief, with personalities from the industry trying to learn why it happened. A number of them told us they reached out to her directly and that Kim seemed "determined."
Gail Kim has no non compete and can appear for any wrestling company she wants or work wherever immediately.
We will continue to follow this story
